Road joint former with plastic support for filler bridges



arch 3, i936. R. R. ROBERTSON ROAD JOINT FORMER WITH PLASTIC SUPPORT FOR FILLER BRIDGES Filed my 13, 1954 2 sheets-Sheet 1 n 1 1 L l f l x Q l March 3, 1936. R, R. ROBERTSON ROAD JOINT FORMER WITH PLASTIC SUPPORT FOR FILLER BRIDGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July-15, 1954. v

Patented Mar. 3, 1936 `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application yJuly 13, 1934, serial No. 734,911

17 Claims.

This invention relates to .'a concrete road leX- pansion .joint forming. mechanism including filler supporting bridge means .mountable in position to span an expansion joint void, .and adapted to be supported .in plastic. supporting members releasably .carried by -a void `forming vcore mechanism removable after the pouring of concrete, to form .road .sections separated .by .the .expansion void the upper portion of which is closedLby means of 'a plastic 'filler deposited -upon the bridge means in the expansionvoid.

Itis an object of this .invention 'to provide .an expansion `joint forming vmechanism including va removable core `unit .having .removably Asecured thereon plastic supporting means adapted to .be embedded in the .concrete forming `the road sections and being so ,positioned that the Alongitudinal margins of :an arched ller supporting bridge means may be engaged .therein to form a suitable support .for Ia plastic ller for closing the upper portion of the expansionjoint It is lalso an object of this .invention to .provide an expansion joint mechanism 'including a removable lcore fas Well as Vplastic vsupports removably supported on the sides thereof to :be embedded in adjacent concrete road sections in a position to be accessible from the expansion void resultingffrom the removal of the'core unit to permit a vbridge means to be engaged in the plastic supports in the upper portion of the expansion void to afford a support for a filling of plastic material vfor closing the upper portion Aof the expansion joint.

lIt is also an object vof this invention to provide an expansion joint for concrete constructions said joint comprising a 'load transmission base unit for closing the lower portion vof 'an Yexpansion void the upper portion of which lis closed Aby means of .a plastic filler supported lon .a bridge means, which spans the upper .portion of the expansion void, Vand has .the :longitudinal margins thereof engaged in `plastic supporting members which vare embedded in theadjacent concrete sections of the road facing the expansion void.

vIt is `a vfurther object iof this invention to -provide :an expansion joint `forming mechanism including releasable plastic supports to be retained in the concrete to'afford suitable supports for receiving and supporting -a tbridge means, which spans the upper .portion ofthe expansion void and serves as a support for a plastic tillen .It is furthermore an objectief this inventionto provide a concrete .road vexpansion joint for-ming mechanism .including plastic members embedded in concrete sections .on opposite sides yof an `expansion joint void for receiving and supporting a plastic fillery supporting arched bridge unit provided 'with' a longitudinal reinforcing means positioned along a longitudinal rcenter line of the upper portion of the expansion joint filler.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expansion joint former including spaced `core plates having plastic membersA removably carried thereon by retaining means which are releasable after the pouring of concrete to permit removal of the .core plates and positioning of the retaining means to span the void and intert one another to form a bridge for the support of agplastic ller.

Itis an important object of this invention to provide an expansion joint forming mechanism including `a load transmission ybase for supporting a removable core `unit' having releasably mountedon the sides thereof plastic bars-adapted to be partially embedded in the concrete forming adjacent road Asections permitting access to be had to the plastic bars when the core unit is removed to allow -a reinforced bridge to have marginal portions thereof forced into the plastic bars -tofholdthebridge in place tosupport a plastic ller in place.

Other vand further important objects of this invention will Vbe apparent from the disclosures in the specificationand lthe accompanying drawlIlgS.

.'Ihe vvinvention .(in .a preferred form) is illustrated in the .drawings and'hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure V1 .is .a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a portion of .a concrete road disclosing an expansion .joint forming mechanism embodying the principles .of this invention and including releasable plastic supports retainable in the concrete .road sections after vthe `removal of the core cap .and coremembers.

.Figure f2 is .an enlarged fragmentary vertical detail section through the upper portion of the expansion joint after the removal of the core cap and -core members .and showing a plastic ller supported .in position Vupon a reinforced bridge member which spans the expansion void and has the .longitudinal margins thereof projected into the plastic supports which are partially embedded in the concrete road sections.

Vligure 3 .is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detail Asection near the upper portion of an expansion joint forming mechanism and illustrating-a .modified form of supporting means .for supporting Lplastic bars in position on vthe sides of the core unit to be embedded in the concrete road sections.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical detail section through the upper portion of an expansion joint forming mechanism illustrating a modifled form of supporting members for temporarily supporting plastic. bars on the sides of the core unit.

Figure 5 is a similar sectional view with the core members and core caps removed leaving the plastic bars partially embedded in the concrete and showing the plastic bar supports ready to be moved inwardly into engagement with one another.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail section similar to that illustrated in Figure 5 showing the bridge members moved into interfitting overlapping engagement with respect to one another to f orm an arched bridge for the support-of a plastic filler for closingA the upper portion of the expansion joint.

Figure 'l is a fragmentary vertical detail section through the upper portion of an expansion joint forming mechanism illustrating the plastic bars removably supported on the sides of the core unit by modified supporting means releasably projectable through openings in the core plates.

Figure 8 is a similar sectional, view showing the core plates and core caps removed and illustrating-an arched bridge memberV engaged in the plastic bars for supporting a plastic filler in position `to close ther upper portion of the expansion joint.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of one of the core plates of the type illustrated in Figure 7 showing a plastic bar held in position on the outer side of the core plate by means of a looped retaining strap, the end members of which are projectable through the plate opening and are bent over against the inner face of the plate. As shown on the drawings:

As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the expansion joint forming mechanism is illustrated as being embedded between two concrete road sections I which form the crown or upper portion of a concrete road, and which are supported upon the road subgrade. Theexpansion joint forming mechanism for the road or a similar concrete construction includes a base unit comprising an elongated base member consisting of a solid base plate 2 constructed of sheet steel or other suitable material. YThe longitudinal margins of the base plate 2 are Vbent upwardly and'then inwardly toward one another to form oppositely .positioned guide channels 3,; The guide channels 3 of the base unit provide oppositely positioned side grooves 4. 'The margins of the top plates of the guide channels 3 are bent upwardly and are cut away to provide spaced upwardly projecting retaining flanges or tongues 5. 'Ihe retaining flanges 5 on opposite sides of the base unitare staggered with respect to'one another. The upwardly projecting retaining flanges 5 of the base unit are spaced apart to provide a top opening in the base member of the device. Y

Associated with the base unit is a load transmittingrmechanism consisting Vof a plurality of anchor shoes or holder sections which are movably or shiftably engaged in the base unit, and arearranged longitudinally in offset or staggered relation with respect 'to one another. Thean- Chor shoes or holders are of substantially identical construction and are arranged with the adjacent shoes reversed wlth respect to one another as illustrated in Figure 1. Eachof the anchor shoes is constructed of metal and comprises an angle bar including a base flange 6 and an upright flange or web 'I integral with said base flange. Projecting outwardly from each of the upright flanges or webs 'I are anchoring blades or wings 8 which project outwardly leaving the inner sides of the upright flanges or webs 'l fiat. The anchoring shoes are staggered'with' respect to one another to allow the upright flanges 'l to be seated in notches provided in the top flanges of the base section between the retaining flanges or fingers 5 leaving retaining spaces between the inner surfaces of the upright flanges I and the outer faces of the retaining flanges or tongues 5 of the base member. Removably supported between the base unit anchor shoes is a void forming core unit comprising a pair of sheet metal plates 9 the lower longitudinal margins of which are held properly spaced apart by being inserted in the spaces between the inner faces of the upright flanges or websv 1 of the anchor shoes and the `outer faces of the retaining flanges or tongues 5 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. Provided in the upper marginal portion of each of the core plates 9 is a row of spaced apertures or openings I0. Releasably engaged against the f outer surface of each of the core plates 9 to cover the row of apertures I is a plastic strip or bar II, in the present instance shown as being substantially of a dovetailed cross-section. It will, of course, be understood that the shapeV of the plastic bar may be any selected shape suitable for the purpose. Each of the plastic bars II is` provided with a row of transverse openings or apertures I 2 which are positioned to register with the core plate openings I 0. For holding the plastic bars adjacent the outer surfaces of the core plates 9, tie wires or cords I3 are projected through the plastic bar openings I2 and the core plate openings I 0 transversely of the core unit with the ends of the Wires projecting upwardly over the tops of the core plates where the wires are twisted one with the other to form a retaining loop for temporarily holding the plastic bars o the sides of the removable core. Y u

Pri-or to the pouring of concrete to formthe road sections, the upper portion of the hollow core unit is temporarily closed by means of a channel or U-shaped closure cap I4 which is used in an inverted position as illustrated in Figure 1 to fit downwardly over the upper margins of the core plates 9 and over the plastic bar retaining looped wires I3. Rigidly secured at spaced intervals within the core closure cap I4 are spacing boxes or members I5.

yWith an expansion joint forming mechanism in position upon the road subgrade, concrete. is poured upon the subgrade on opposite sides of the joint forming mechanism to embed the various members thereof including the plastic bars II. The deposited concrete forms the adjacent road sections I. After the concrete has set a desired amount, the closure cap I4 is removed together with the upperspacers I forming a part thereof. Edging tools may now be used for providing the rounded corners I6 on opposite sides of the crack or filler void forming the upper portion of the expansion joint. After the removal of the closure cap I4, the plastic bar retaining wiresY I3 are cut on both sides to release the plastic bars from the core plates. Portions of the wire retaining loops may be left partially engaged with the plastic bars as illustrated in Figure 2 or if desired the retaining wires may be completely pulled out. With the removal of the retaining wires I3.

the core plates 9 are moved. inwardly toward one another and are then pulled upwardly from between the concrete sections I leaving the expansion void I1 between the road sections.

For the purpose of closing the upper portion of the expansion void I1, an improved bridge unit is used. The bridge unit comprises a pair of inclined bridge plates I8, the outer .or lower longitudinal margins of which are slightly deflected to form vsupporting or base flanges I9 which are forced into the plastic bars II as clearly illustrated in Figure -2 to support the bridge unit in position. 'Ihe upper longitudinal margins of the bridge plates or flanges I8 are integrally connected by means .of a split ridge tube or pipe 2l) having Va reinforcing or core bar 2I engaged therein to reinforce the ridge tube 20 and prevent crushing or indenting of the samein case the same should be moved too near the upper surface of the road to be brought into contact with vehicle wheels or the like passing over the road. With the reinforced bridge unit in position as illustrated in Figure 2, a lling of plastic material such as asphalt or the like is poured into the space between the upper portions of the concrete sections I and above the bridge unit to form a plastic filler block 22 which covers the bridge unit and also unites with the plastic bars II. The top surface of the plastic filler block 22 is preferably left below the top level of the concrete sections I and slightly above the reinforced ridge tube 20 of the bridge unit.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of bridge supporting plastic members and supporting means therefor. In this figure, the core unit members are numbered to correspond with the numbering in Figure 1. In the modified form illustrated in Figure 3, cylindrical plastic bars 23 are positioned on opposite sides of the hollow core unit and are temporarily supported in position by U-shaped hanging wires 24 which engage over the upper margins of the core plates, and have the ends thereof shaped to form retaining hooks 25 which are embedded in the plastic cylindrical bars 23. The wire supports 24 are temporarily covered by the closure cap-I4 until after the pouring of the concrete which forms the road sections I.

After the pouring of the concrete, the cap I4 is removed and the edges of the concrete are rounded with suitable edging tools. The supporting wires 24 are then cut to permit the core plates 9 to be removed and allow a 'ller supporting bridge unit to be engaged in the cylindrical plastic bars 23 to span the upper portion of thc expansion void similar to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 2.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate another modified form of plastic bar supporting means which in this instance comprises a combination supporting means and a ller supporting bridge mechanism. In this modified form of the device, plastic supporting bars 26 are releasably engaged on the outer sides o-f the core plates 9 by means of plate hangers 21 the lower margins .of which are deflected and project into the plastic bars 26 in the form of supporting flanges 28. The upper margins of the supporting plates 21 are bent to form supporting hooks 29 as illustrated in Figure 4. After the hook supporting plates are engaged on the upper margins of the core plates 9, the core closure cap I4 is engaged in position and the concrete is then poured to form the road sections I. When the concrete has sufliciently set, the closure cap I4 is removed and the hook shaped portions 29 of the supporting plates 21 are bent upwardly to permit removal of the core 'plates' 9 leaving the supporting plates 21 in the position substantially that illustrated in Figure 5. The supporting plates 21 are now bent inwardly towards one another with the ilanges 29 overlapping each other to form a ller supporting bridge unit as .illustrated in Figure 6. A lling of plastic material is no-w deposited upon the bridge unit to form 'a filler block 30 for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 illustrate another modified means for temporarily supporting plastic bars 3| on opposite sides of a core unit, the core plates 9 of which are provided with openings 32 at spaced intervals. Partially embedded in the plastic `bars 3| at spaced intervals are U-shaped supporting straps 33 the ends 34 of which project outof the plastic bar and project through the core plate openings 32 and are bent over adjacent the Aplates similar to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 9 for holding the plastic bars temporarily-engaged on the outer surfaces of the core plates 9. The expansion joint closure cap I4 is now engaged over the upper margins of the core plates 9 and concrete is then poured to embed the vexpansion joint forming mechanism to form the concrete sections I. After the concrete has sufficiently set, the closure cap I4 is removed and the edges of the concrete are properly rounded. The kdeflected ends 34 of the supporting straps vare now bent into the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 7 and the core plates are moved inwardly out of engagement with the supporting members 33 and are removed from between the concretesections I leaving an expansion void between the' concrete sections. The ends 34 of the U-shaped straps 33 are now bent into the positions fillustrated in Figure 8 and an arched bridge member 35 is engaged in the upper portion of the expansion void 36 and is supported in position by rfor'cing the longitudinal margins of the bridge member into the plastic bars 3| and into 'the U-shaped portions of the supporting members 33. AA 4filling of plastic material is now deposited upon "the bridge 35 to form a filler block 31 for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint. The plastic material forming the ller block 31 nds its Way into the U-shaped supporting members 33 and acts as a locking means or binder for assisting in holding the bridge member 35 in position.

One of the features of the present invention vis the provision of plastic supporting bars 'of selective shape temporarily engaged or supported upon the sides of removable core members of an expansion joint forming mechanism. Said plastic bars adapted to be retained in position partially embedded in concrete sections of the road Aso that lafter the removal of the closure cap and the core plates of the expansion joint forming mechanism, bridge members of selective shape may lbenplace'd in the expansion void to bridge the 'same with portions of the bridge members forced into the plastic bars similar' to the varrangements illus'- trated in Figures 2, 6, and 8. Attention is also called to the form illustrated in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive wherein the plastic bars are temporarily supported on the core plates by hangers 'which later on are used to engage one another to form a bridge member for supporting the plastic filler in position to close the upper portion of the 'expansion Void.

Attention is called to the fact that in this invention expansion joints vare provided rbetween adjacent concrete sections of a road with the expansion joint consisting of a load transmission Vdetails of construction may be varied through a wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon other- Wise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A concrete construction expansion joint mechanism including in combination a base, a plurality of load transmission anchor members slidably engaged therewith, a core unit removably supported by the anchor members and removable from the concrete construction to provide an expansion space therein, plastic supporting members of plastic material temporarily carried by the core unit and retainable in position partially embedded in the concrete when the core unit is removed, means for temporarily supporting said supporting members on the sides of the core unit, and a removable closure cap engaged over the last mentioned means and the upper portion of the core unit during the pouring of the concrete to form the concrete construction.

2. A concrete road expansion joint mechanism including in combination a load transmission base, al core unit removably supported therein, bridge supporting bars of plastic material positioned adjacent the outer sides of the core unit,

v releasable vmeans for temporarily holding ythe plastic bars in position on the core unit, and a closure cap for removable engagement on the Vcore unit for temporarily enclosing the plastic bar retaining means.

3, An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a base, a core unit removably supported thereby and removable from the concrete to leave a void therein, plastic members releasably secured on the sides of the core unit to remain partially embedded in the concrete when the core unit is removed,` and means projecting into the plastic members for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint void.

4'. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a base, a core unit removably supported thereby and removable from the concrete to leave a void therein, plastic bars releasably secured to the core unit and retainable partially embedded in the concrete when the core unit is removed, bridge means spanning the expansion void and projecting into the plastic bars and a plastic ller supported on the bridge means for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint void.

5. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a load transmission base, a core unit removably supported thereon and removable from the concrete to leave a void therein, plastic members positioned adjacent the sides of the core unit retainable partially embedded in the concrete when the core unit is removed, means for temporarily holdingthe plastic members supported on the core unit during the pouring of concrete, said means releasable after the pouring of concrete to permit removal of the core unit, and filler means supported by the plastic members for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint void.

6. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and comprising a base, a core unit removably supported by the base and ller supporting means of plastic material removably supported on the core unit and releasable therefrom to remain partially embedded in the concrete when the core unit is removed.

7. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a load transmission base, means for forming an expansion void in the concrete above the load transmission base, plastic members embedded in the concrete and accessible from the expansion void, and filler means projecting from the plastic members for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint void.

8. An expansion void forming device for embedding in a concrete construction, said device comprising a core unit removable from the concrete'to leave a void therein, plastic means carried by the core unit, a void closing means, and retaining means for holding the plastic means temporarily associated With the core unit, said retaining means releasable when the core unit is removed from the concrete to leave the plastic means partially embedded in the concrete and Vaccessible from the void to serve as a support for the void closing means.

9. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a core means removable from the concrete to leave a void therein, plastic meansv carried by the core means retainable by the concrete and accessible from the void, and means projectable into the plastic means to serve as a support for a filler for closing the upper portion of the void.

l0. A road joint former for embedding in concrete and comprising a base, a core unit thereon, plastic members contacting the sides of the core unit, and fiexible supports for holding the plastic means temporarily supported on the core unit releasable from the core unit to permit removal thereof, said flexible supports movable into interlocking engagement with one another to span the void resulting from the removal of the core unit and serve as a support for a ller.

11, A road joint former for embeddingin concrete and comprising a removable core unit including plastic members contacting the sides of the core unit, and supporting means for holding the plastic members temporarily on the core unit and releasable from the core unit after the pouring of concrete to permit removal of the core unit after which the supporting means are movable into interlocking engagement with one another to span the void resulting from the removal of the ycore unit and serve as a support for a iiller.

12. A road joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a pair of oppositely positioned plastic members embedded in the concrete sections on opposite sides of an expansion joint void, bridge means spanningthe void and projecting into the plastic members, and a lling of plastic material deposited on the bridge means for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint. Y

13. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a pair of plastic members embedded in the concrete on opposite sides of an expansion joint void and accessible from the void, bridge means spanning the void and projecting into the plastic members, means for reinforcing the bridge means, and a plastic filling deposited upon the bridge means for closing the upper portion of the expansion joint.

14. A concrete expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a core unit removable from the concrete to leave a void therein, plastic members contacting the sides of the core unit, and means partially embedded in the plastic members releasably engaging the core unit for holding the plastic members in position during the pouring of concrete and releasable from the core unit to permit removal thereof after the plastic members have been embedded in the concrete.

15. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination removable void forming plates, plastic members contacting the plates, means for releasably holding the plastic members supported on the plates during the pouring of concrete, said means releasable to permit removal of the plates leaving the plastic members embedded in the concrete and accessible from the void resulting from the removal of the core plates, and a filler projecting into the plastic members for closing the upper portion of the void.

16. VA road joint for embedding in concrete and comprising core plates for removable engagement in the concrete, plastic members contacting the outer surfaces of the core plates, releasable means for holding the plastic members in position during the pouring of concrete and releasable to leave the plastic members partially engaged in the concrete when the core plates are removed to form an expansion void affording access to the partially embedded plastic members, and a ller projecting into the plastic members for closing the upper portion of the expansion void.

17. An expansion joint mechanism for embedding in concrete and including in combination a removable void forming core, plastic means releasably engaged thereon to be retained partially embedded in the concrete when the core is removed to form an expansion void, a bridge spanning the expansion void and projecting into the plastic means, a tubular member forming a ridge for the bridge, a reinforcing member in said tubular member, and a ller supported on said bridge for closing the upper portion of the expansion void.

ROBERT R. ROBERTSON. 

